Manifolding machine



Oct. 16, 1923. 1,471,289

J. Q. SHERMAN MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed May 28 1921 ATTO/P/Vf/i Patent ed Oct. 16 1923.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

mmronnme MACHINE.

Application filed ma as,

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. SHERMAN, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Manifolding Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to manifolding-machines and more particularly to autographic registers, wherein a plurality of webs are impressed with like markings or notations, and one full sized section of a selected web is rewound or stored within the machine at each operation of the feeding mechanism.

In connection with the feeding of webs of paper in alignment, particularly where the webs are formed with holes therein which are engaged by feeding pins, it has been diflicult to provide for a rewinding of the lowermost Web to serve as a record, while at the same time not disturbing the feed in perfect alignment of all the webs including said recqrd web.

I have devised various structures in the past wherein it was possible to feed forward the record web along with all of the others, and permit this web portion to accumulate loosely for all or a portion of the feeding period and then take up this slack. I have employed retarders and inhibiting devices for the record spindle, and spring devices for operating such spindles while the ordinary feed mechanism is at rest.

According to the invention in this case, however, I provide for a winding up of the record spindle or roll simultaneously with the main paper feed and insert between the main feed devices and the record roll a takeup which preserves a loop or looseness at all times of that portion of the record web next adjacent to the main feeding devices.

In this Way I provide for perfect freedom of the record web for feeding and alignment with the other webs, and yet obtain a tightly wound and perfect record roll from this web.

In more detail it is my object to provide a paper clamp and sliding weight take-up between the main feed and the record roll, so that the clamp may prevent any rolling up of the record web during its feed from the main feeding operation into the first loop 1921. Serial No. 473,533.

and the sliding weightmay accumulate and hold enough of the record web to supply the record roll with paper during each feeding operation. Thus the clamp may release its grip on the paper at the end of the feed ing operation, whereu on the weight will slide downwardly and orm a loop made up of the paper which has accumulated during the feed. During the next operation this loop will be taken up by the rewind roll leaving the weight in its upward position ready to form another loop when the clamp is again released.

By referring to winding up of the record strip I do not desire to exclude other means therefor, such as, for example, the folding of the record Web by an oscillating mecha-' nism or cutting and stacking the various sections of the record web after they have passed the weighted take-up mechanism.

I accomplish my objects by that certain construction. and arrangement of parts to be. hereinafter more specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of'the feeding and rewinding mechanism with the usual frame parts of an autographic register merely indicated semi -diagrammatical1y.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail end elevation'showing the paper clamp mechanism.

Referring first to the main feed, I wish to note that while this is of-the pin feed type. that other forms of true alignment f ed will serve instead of this. I prefer thi pin wheel feed becauseof its greater per-' fection in feeding a number of webs of paper in true alignment.

Thus mounted in the frame 1 of the ma chine is the feed shaft 2 on which are the desired number of rotary disks 3 equipped with equally spaced radial pins 4. These pins are adapted to freely engage a series of holes formed in the various webs of paper to be fed. these holes being usually formed in careful uniformity with the printing on the webs. The paper comes to the feed pins over a slotted writing table 5 and is held against rising from the pins but not frictionally engaged by-a grooved roller 6 held.

under spring tension in the top 7-of the register. This mechanism is of the type shown and described for the first time in the patent to Schirmer No. 940,481, dated November 16, 1909, except for the fact that the disks 7 on the feed shaft preserve the roller 6 in a fixed non-clamping position.

The feed shaft has a handle 8 which is controlled so as to make but one complete revolution at each operation by means of any desired automatic but releasable stop 9. The feed pin devices are adjusted to feed at each complete revolution a full sized section of each web, said sections ordinarily being printed with corresponding lines to be fille-l in by the user of the machine, with the aid of some suitable transfer paper or fabric.

Mounted on the feed shaft is a gear 10 which meshes with an idler 11 on the side frame 1. This idler meshes with the outer one of two gears 12 and 13, which are both mounted loosely over a stud 14 in the frame. Any desired spring or resilient device may be used to hold the two gears 12 and 13 together, I having used in this instance a cupped-out disk 15 which is held on the stud by means of a screw and washer 16 and thereby pressed against the inner ear 13.

This inner gear thus frictionally driven meshes with a small gear 17 which is mounted on a stud 18 in the side frame. The stud is socketed to receive the end 19 of the record roll spindle 20 and the record roll has a notch in its end face to engage over a pin 21 on the inner face of the gear17. Thus the record roll may be removed from its driving position by means of the said pm by withdrawal laterally without disturbing the gear and its connection.

The revolution of the feed shaft will thus transmit motion to the record roll with a suitable friction drive, which must provide for slippage as the roll increases in size.

Set in the side walls of the machine are a pair of ways 22 in which slides freely a weight bar 23. Mounted across the frame between the upper end of the ways and the feed pin devices are a pair of rollers or bars 24, which are engaged, as will be described, by a clamping roller or bar 25.

The webs of paper which are not to be preserved are fed from the machine, and the record web passes from the feed pins out between the rollers 25 and 24, and thence is looped under the weight bar. From the weight bar the record web passes over an idler roll 26 and thence direct to the record roll where it is wound and stored.

To operate the clamping roller 25 T provide a pair of arms 27 pivotally mounted intermediate their ends at 28 on the side frame pieces, said arms carrying the roller 25 and being pressed upwardly toward a clamping position of the said roller by springs 29 set on brackets 30.

Set on brackets 31, 31, depending from the writing table of the machine, is a rock shaft Menace The rock shaft has also a pair of arms 37 thereon which carry a roller or bar 38 that lies beneath the cut-out portion of the writing table intermediate the usual slots through which the feed pins project. When the rock shaft is rocked by means of the cam, the roller or bar 38 is pressed up against the roller 6 and thus holds all webs of paper tightly clamped during the idle. position of the machine.

Mounted on the face, in this instance of the gear 10, is a stop or abutment 39, which contacts with one of the bars 27 making up the support of the clamping roller 25. This abutment strikes the roller 40 on the end of this arm and thereby tips the bar upwardly and lowers the roller 25 against the spring pressure exerted upon it. The stop is located, as is the high point of the cam 35, so that it strikes up and holds up the roller 40 when the handle of the feed shaft is in ini tial position.

The mechanism of the clamping roller or bar 38 and that of the clamping roller or bar 25 are independent of each other, except that both are operated by the feed handle of the machine.

As so constructed the machine operates as follows: the operator places the paper in the machine in the usual way, first withdrawing sufiicient paper to permit the record web 41 to pass the feed pins, run through the clamp of the rollers 24 and 25, form a complete loop under the weight bar, and thence pass to engagen'lent with the record roll. The gearing is such that upon the first operation of the feed handle a desired length portion of each web of paper is freely fed forward over the writing table of the machine, including the record web, and such that the record roll will wind up completely a section of the record web equal to one full length section.

While the feed shaft and feed pins are in operation the roller 40 will be pressed down by the springs beneath the other end of the clamp roller supporting arms, so that the record web will be clamped tightly against movement, but the record roll will get its supply from the loop maintained by the sliding weight.

' When the end of the feed is reached. there will have accumulated between the feed pin devices and the rollers 24 and 25 a full len th section of paper, and also at the close of t e feed all webs of paper will be clamped at the feeding line and stop 39 will strike up the roller 40, thus freeing the web at 24, 25, so that the sliding weight. which will have been pulled up, will be permitted to fall carrying with it sufiicient paper to make up another supply for the record roll during the next operation of the machine.

At the start of the next operation the aper clamp at the feeding line will be reeased and that at 24, 25, will spring into active position. The record roll as itbecomes larger will feed more paper at each operation, but the increasing size thereof will be more than sutlicie'nt to take up all the slack accumulated in the sliding weight device. As it does, the friction slip between the cars 12 and 13 will permit the stoppage of tl le said record roll, but this will not disturb the looseness of the ecord web adjacent the feed ins.

It is t is looseness which is one of the main objectsi of this invention.

It will be understood that while referring to specific gearing and specific parts of an autographic register I do not wish tothereby exclude from the scope of my invention such corresponding mechanisms as are familiar substitutes therefor in the manifolding ma-- chine art.

Having thus desicribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from the said feeding devices and simultaneously therewith. and means for maintaining a freely withdrawable length of paper between the feeding devices and the accumulating mechanism, for the purpose described.

2. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed strips to be issiued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from said devices, a paper clamp located between the feeding devices and the accumulating mechanism, means on the feeding mechanism to operate said clamp .and means for maintaining a freely withdrawable length of paper between the clamp and the accumulating mechanism.

3. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed strips to be issued and a record strip to beretained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from said devices, a paper clamp located between the feeding devices and the accumulating mechanism means on the feeding mechanism to operate said clamp, and means for maintaining a freely withdrawable length of paper between the clamp and the accumulating mechanism, said means comprising in part, means for maintaining a loop of paper in taut condition, whereby the accumulating mechanism may act properly on the paper.

4. In a manifolding machine, the combination with rotary feeding mechanism for a plurality of webs of paper including a strip to be retained in the machine, a rotary accumulating mechanism for winding up the said record strip, driving means interto maintain a taut loopthereof adjacent the rewind roll, and a clamp for the paper located between the feeding means and the sliding bar and means on the feeding mechanism to operate said clamp.

6. In a manifolding machine, means for feeding a plurality of strips of paper including a record strip, a rewind roll for the record strip, driving connection intermediate the feeding mechanism and the rewind roll, a sliding bar engaging over the paper to maintain a taut loop thereof adjacent the rewind roll. and a clamp for the paper located between the feeding means and the sliding bar, said clamp comprising in part a mov able bar, and means connected to the feeding devices to move the bar to clamping position during the feeding operation of the feeding means, and release it intermittently to permit re-forming of the loop by the sliding bar.

7. In a manifolding machine, means for feeding a plurality of strips of paper including a record strip, a rewind roll for the record strip, driving connection intermediate the feeding mechanism and the rewind roll, a sliding bar engaging over the paper to maintain a taut loop thereof adjacent the rewind roll, and a' clamp for the paper located between the feeding means and the sliding'bar, said clamp comprising in part a movable bar, and operating means for the bar controlled by the feeding devices adapted to move the bar to clamping position during the feeding movement of the feeding means and release it at the conclusion of each feeding movement.

8. In a manifolding machine, means for feeding a plurality of strips of paper including a record strip, a rewind roll for the record strip, driving connection intermediate the feeding mechanism and the rewind roll, a sliding bar engaging over the paper to maintain a taut/loop thereof adjacent the rewind roll, and a clamp for the paper located between the feeding means and the sliding bar, said clamp comprising in part a movable bar, and operating means for the bar controlled by the feeding devices adapted to move the bar to clamping position during the feeding movement of the feeding means and release it at the conclpsion of each feeding movement, an operatlng handle for the feeding means, and a locking device to releasably retain the handle at the conclusion of each feeding movement.

In a manifolding machine, means for feeding a plurality of strips of paper includ ing a record strip, a rewind roll for the record strip, driving connection intermediate the feeding mechanism and the rewind roll, a sliding bar engaging over the paper to maintain a taut loop thereof adjacent the rewind roll, and a clamp for the paper located between the feeding means and the sliding bar, said clamp comprising in part a movable bar, and operating means for the bar controlled bythe feeding devices adapted to move the bar to clamping position during the feeding movement of the feeding means and release it at the conclusion of each feeding movement, and an additional clamp for all strips of paper adapted to operate at the conclusion of each feeding movement, to clamp all paper during the period of release of the record strip.

10. In a manifolding machine, the combination with rotary means comprising at least in part, pins to engage in aligned holes in a plurality of Webs of paper lncluding a record strip to feed and align said webs, of an accumulating device for the record strip, driving connection between the rotary means and the accumulating device, a clamp operated by the rotary means to hold the record web during the feeding movement of the said pins and then release it, means on the feeding mechanism to operate said clamp, and means for maintaining a loop of paper between the clamp and the accumulating device.

11. In a manifolding machine, the combination with rotary means comprising at least in part, pins to engage in aligned holes in a plurality of webs of paper including a record strip to feed and align said webs, of an accumulating device for the record strip, driving connection between the rotary means and the accumulating device, a clamp operated by the rotary means to hold the record web during the feeding movement of'the said pins and then release,

it, means on the feeding mechanism to operate said clamp, and ineans for maintaining a loop of paper between the clamp and the accumulating device, there being an additional clamp operated by the rotary means and adapted to clamp all webs of paper during inoperative condition of the first mentioned clamp..

12. In a manifolding' machine, the combination with feeding devices for aplurality of webs of paper adapted to feed strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from said devices, a paper clamp located between the feeding devices and the accumulating mechanism, and means for maintaining a freely withdrawable length of paper between the clamp and the accumulating mechanism, said clamp comprising a pair of bars lying adjacent to each other, a clamping bar carried by a frame adapted to move it into juxtaposition With said two bars, and cam means on the feeding devices for controlling said frame to release the lastmentioned bar during nonfeeding position of the feeding means.

13. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from said devices, a paper clamp located between the feeding devices and the accumulating mechanism, means on the feeding mechanism to operate said clamp, and means for maintaining a freely withdrawable length of paper between the clamp and the a cumulating mechanism, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of ways, and a bar slidable in said ways, said bar being set over the web of paper. whereby it will fall by gravity and draw with it a loop of said paper.

14. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed continuous strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for loosely accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from said de vices, and means for making inactive the accumulating mechanism so that the record strip can be advanced to position for storing on the record roll.

15. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed continu ous strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from the said feeding devices and simultaneously therewith, and means for maintaining the record strip loosely until the end of the feeding MIG) operation, and means for advancing it at the end of the feeding operation into position feeding devices and operating simultaneously with said devices, and means for advancing the record strip from this position to position for storage purpose succeeding each operation of. the feeding devices 17. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of'paper adapted to feed strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, a mechanism for accumulating the record strip after it has passed the feeding devices and operated from said devices, means for advancing said record strip from the position in which it was first accumulated to a position where it is accessible for storage purposes, and all of said means being operated by the feeding means.

18. In a manifolding machine, the combination with feeding devices for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed strips to be issued and a record strip to be retained, and mechanism for loosely accumulating the record stripafter it has passed the feeding devices and operated by the said feeding devices, means for advancing the record strip from this position to a position for storage purposes and a storage roll for rewinding the record strip thereon, all of which-are operated by the main feeding devices.

19. In a manifoldingmachine, means for feeding a pluralitytof webs of paper, one of them to be retained in the machine, and

means operated by the feeding means for simultaneously maintaining a loose accumulation of said retained web next to the ,feed and establishing a tight accumulation of the said web from loose accumulations of previous feeding operations.

20. In a manifolding machine, a feeding device for a record strip, comprising three units, one to feed the strip together with other strips in said machine, one to accu-.

mulate and subsequently take up a freely hanging portion, and one to wind this portion into a roll, for storage purposes.

21. In a manifolding machine, a feeding device for a record strip, comprising three units, one a pin wheel feeding device to advance the' record strip in alignment with other vwebs, one to accumulate and subsequently take up a freely hanging portion of the said strip, and one to wind this portion into a roll for storage purposes.

22. In a manifolding machine, a feeding device for a record strip, comprising three units, one to feed the strip together with other strips in said machine, one to accumulate and subsequently take up a freely hanging portion, and one to wind this portion into a roll, for storage purposes, said last two units being controlled by the first unit.

23. In a manifolding machine having 'a definite cycle of operations for feeding a plurality of paper strips a given length at each operation, means for retaining one of said strips in the machine, comprising a storage device, a self-impelled take-up device, and means for preventing operation of the take-up device, both the preventing means and storage device being operable from the main feeding device during its feeding movement.

24. In combination, a feeding device for a plurality of webs of paper in a manifolding machine,a storage device for one of the webs at least, operable simultaneously with the feeding device, and means for maintaining a loose, accumulation of the web to be stored between the storage device and the feeding device during'said simultaneous operation.

25. In combination, a pin wheel feeding device for a plurality of webs of apertured paper in a manifolding machine,'a storage device operable simultaneously with the feeding device, and means for maintaining a loose accumulation of the web to be stored intermediate said feeding and storage devices during their simultaneous operation.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN. 

